Ja'Tavion

Sanders

He’ll almost certainly be placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 18’s game against the Buccaneers. Sanders broke his ankle on Carolina’s first play from scrimmage yesterday against the Seahawks. The 2024 fourth-rounder enters the 2026 offseason in the third year of his rookie contract having not taken a noticeable step forward in his sophomore year while struggling through a midseason high-ankle sprain. He doesn’t figure to offer a lot in fantasy leagues in 2026 from where we sit at the end of the 2025 season.

Sanders’ right foot got rolled up run blocking on the literal first play of the game. He was in a world of pain before being carted to the locker room. It’s quite possible the 22-year-old’s season is through. The second-year pro entered today sitting on a 29/190/1 line, with the touchdown coming last week.

Sanders was targeted just twice, but one of those targets was a six-yard touchdown catch. The other one was an attempted hurdle for a three-yard gain in the first half. Rookie Mitchell Evans caught three passes for 23 yards as well. The tight end spot in Carolina is a mix of multiple players. Sanders ran 20 routes and saw 31 snaps, while Tommy Tremble saw 23 snaps and Evans saw 16 snaps. Sanders is the pass-catching tight end while Evans is more of the blocker, but neither should be on fantasy radars for Week 17.

Sanders led the team’s tight ends in targets and catches, but Tommy Tremble was the hero of the day with a 54-yard reception to set up a game-winning field goal. Rookie tight end Mitchell Evans also caught a pair of passes. With all three tight ends seeing some work every week, Sanders is barely in the TE2 mix ahead of Week 12.

Sanders flashed with at least five receptions in a game for the second time this season. The second-year tight end is at the mercy of the Panthers’ passing game when it comes to fantasy value, though. Bryce Young has thrown for at least 200 yards in a game once all year so it’s best to look elsewhere for a tight end in Week 11.

Even with Tommy Tremble active, it was Sanders who clearly led the tight end battle. Still, there was little to show for it with Andy Dalton struggling so much under center. Neither Panthers tight end should be trusted in fantasy leagues.

Tremble logged 12 routes on the day while Ja’Tavion Sanders ran 14 routes and did not catch either of his targets. Neither Tremble nor Sanders are fantasy relevant unless one of the tight ends misses time. Tremble had been a viable streaming option while Sanders was sidelined with an ankle injury.

Sanders has been sidelined by his sprained ankle since injuring it in Week 3. The 22-year-old tight end will be difficult to trust in his first game back and can only be treated as a TE2. The Panthers are also getting back slot receiver Jalen Coker (quad), and Sanders will likely operate behind him in the target pecking order.

Sanders is seemingly on track to play in his first game since the Panthers’ Week 3 win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, slot WR Jalen Coker (quad) is also on track to play, which pushes Sanders further down the target pecking order than when he last took the field. Sanders is a boom-bust TE2 if active this week.

Sanders went LP-FP-LP for his three practice sessions last week. It looks like he will get a similar practice regimen this time around, though a full practice on Friday would give him a better shot at suiting up this week. Sanders has been out since Week 3 with a high-ankle sprain. Tommy Tremble and Mitch Evans are splitting the tight end snaps. Neither player is on the fantasy radar.